"I'm glad you had the surgery then but it wouldn't have made any difference to me, if you'd told me you were still having problems."
"Thank you for saying that. Maybe next time, you will allow me to be on top?"
"I like being on top, it's more exciting. Don't worry, I won't insist every time though and once I've been to the clinic, you won't have to wear those things. I could hardly tell you were wearing anything though."
"New type, thought I would try them," he grinned as Rose climbed off him. "I had best get cleaned up, then I will go check on Jack."
"Thanks. Just one thing though, well it's just a little thing really. I'll not be able to go on anything right away, until after next weekend. Hope you got a good supply?"
"Don't worry about it love, we will make them last, we don't have to use them all the time, we will wait until just before you are due. Rose, I was married, I swear my ex wife had two a month, she thought she was fooling me. You will warn me if you get grumpy?"
"Yeah, maybe that's what put James off in the end? Sorry, I won't mention him again."
"Yes you will, it is unavoidable, it will happen. You know Jack is going to be confused, when he gets a little older, well never mind when he gets older, that is the reason he is happy coming to me, you must know that love? You asked what you should call me, in front of him, I can't tell you, I suppose Uncle Alec will do for now, until he starts trying to talk but how will he feel? I know this is difficult for you, you have to talk to his father about it."
"Yeah, I know that Alec, when James comes to town, people will notice he looks like you. Maybe we should go to the paper, it will save a lot of embarrassment for both of you."
"You mean tell everyone you left your baby's father, arrived in Broadchurch by accident and taken up with me, who could pass as his double? That's a bit personal Rose, don't you think?"
"What else can I do Alec? Tell everyone you're his father? What about James? There's no easy answer to this, I can't think about it."
Rose got out of bed and put her underwear and her nightdress on, Alec trying to get out without making a mess, which wasn't easy, since he was out of practice. He thought Rose was going back to her own room but she got back into bed as he took off the used article using a tissue then binned it. Putting on his shorts, he retrieved his t-shirt and went to check on Jack, who was fast asleep in the middle of the cot, Alec thinking he looked better in that one than the folding one.
Yes, he did feel sorry for how they'd had to live for the past few months but Rose was right, how were they going to explain it but then he had an idea if Rose would agree.
"Rose, I may have a solution love."
"What?" she asked, yawning. "I'm not telling everyone you're his real father, we just met yesterday Alec."
"I know and no, I wasn't going to suggest you did. Meet James somewhere else, I don't know, Dorchester, Weymouth or even Lyme-Regis. We can both go there, you can hand Jack over to him for a few hours and if James wants to see where Jack lives, we can bring him back and hardly anyone will see him. If anyone does, Jack will be with us, we can say James is my cousin."
"I suppose it's worth a try but I want to go to the paper, I'm not having everyone thinking you and Ellie were having an affair and you were seeing me at the same time."
"Good, I am sure she will be relieved about that. I would hate to be accused of cheating on either of you."
Rose sat up in bed and smiled, Alec switching off the lamp and Rose turning to him.
"You're not thinking of keeping that t-shirt on are you?"
"Are you keeping that nightdress on?"
"Just in case I have to go see to Jack."
"I told you, I will take care of him in the morning. So, about seeing James, what do you think eh?"
"That you being a detective didn't go to waste after all, it's a good idea and I can tell James there's nothing to do here and they'll be better off going to another town, that way, the less people see them together. I'll call him tomorrow and I'll write down what I want to tell the paper."
"Fine. I will take my t-shirt off if you wear it."
Rose let him help her take her nightdress off and he put the t-shirt on her.
"I want that back in the morning, Miss Tyler."
"Yes Sir, DI Hardy, Sir."
Alec was missing again the next morning, having heard young Jack on the baby monitor making noises so he slipped on his grey joggers over some clean shorts, though Rose would be disappointed she'd missed that and another t-shirt and walked into the other bedroom that would soon be a nursery, when he'd taken down the other bed.
"Hello there Jack, you are an early riser. Let's give your mum a lie-in eh?"
He changed the boy, got him dressed and since Rose had left everything downstairs, he put Jack in the high chair he'd opened up last night before going upstairs and found a clean bib.
"How about some cereal and some milk?"
Jack was wondering where he was, he'd never got to use the one James had bought for him but he looked quite happy, Alec making sure he was securely strapped in. He made the cereal by pouring some water in the bowl with the mixture, wondering if in future he could maybe try Jack with some ready made but he'd leave that to Rose. In the quiet of the morning, he pulled a chair over and sat in front of the baby, who was opening his month for the spoon.
"Someone is hungry, I wonder if you were so eager to take breakfast from your mum?"
Jack made a few noises, Alec assuming the boy hadn't and had given Rose a hard time. Well it looked like life was going to get easier for her but it was a shame he couldn't claim his grey t-shirt back, he would have enjoyed doing so but maybe Jack would oblige and go back in his cot for a while?
The cereal all finished, he brought the milk over and Jack held his hands out for it, Alec just supporting the bottom. There was still no sign of Rose, who had woken up, seen it was six forty-five and had crept to the bathroom then gone back to bed, knowing her son was in safe hands and hoping since Alec had to come back and get dressed, he would claim his t-shirt back.
His task finished, Alec carried the boy back to his cot and lying him down on top of the duvet, gave him some toys to play with that Rose had sorted out from those Ellie had brought. He leaned over and kissed the boy's forehead.
"You stay there for half an hour while I wake your mum."
Rose had heard him on the monitor and was sat up in bed, waiting for who overnight had become her friend, protector and lover.
"Hi there Uncle Alec, come to claim back your t-shirt?"
Alec gave a wicked smile and taking off his jogging trousers got back into bed, Rose rolling over on top of him and Alec putting his hands under the t-shirt that was too big for her. Rose lifted his t-shirt and began kissing his chest.
"You can bet on that, give it back Rose."
"Always willing to co-operate with the police, inspector, come here."
They kissed as Alec helped her out of the t-shirt and pulled down her underwear, remembering she wasn't protected so they could only fool around, which didn't bother him in the slightest, now he'd experienced her last night and could feel her going for the back of his shorts.
"Ah, just you remember something Rose."
"I'm trying to, you were so good last night, I don't think that packet you bought is gonna last another week. Make me happy Alec."
He turned her over onto her back and pulled off her underwear as she yanked down his shorts, then he laid on her, making her gasp, pulling his t-shirt off.
"Now do you wish you had been underneath me last night?"
As Rose moaned underneath him, he didn't need an answer but they couldn't linger for too long, Alec very aware of the young baby in the other room and all too soon, after they both let their feelings wash over them from just touching, Alec was helping her with her underwear.
"What time do you need to go to work Alec?"
"Not for a while, come here gorgeous."
He leaned down to kiss her again, Rose grabbing his ass.
"Wait until tonight, I'm on top."
"No arguments from me. You get dressed, I'll go see to Jack."
"Rose, he's fine, just listen. If he wasn't, he would be crying, he's just gurgling. Just relax love, that's what the monitor and the baby equipment are for, you just have to leave him sometimes, you are just a few seconds away from him, if he does start to cry. You have to learn he does not need watching 24 hours a day."
"I know Alec, it's just what I've got used to over the last few months, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry for being a good mother Rose. Now, do you feel confident to get dressed with me or are you going back to your own room?"
"This is my room Alec, if you're willing to share but my clothes are in there."
"Yes, I already said this is your room as well. Why don't you move your things in later, when I get back? You can watch me if you want?"
"I got a good view of your ass last night. Maybe you could turn around?"
"Ah, sorry but I put clean shorts on earlier, better luck tomorrow morning love. You could help me with my shirt maybe?"
Rose got out of bed and put her nightdress on while Alec went to the bathroom then got a shirt from the wardrobe. They kissed again while fumbling around with the shirt buttons but she left him to put his trousers on, not being able to trust herself that he'd actually get to work.
"You go get dressed love, I will get Jack, the chair is already up, don't go falling over it will you?"
"Nah but thanks for the warning. Alec, can I just say something?"
He was putting his tie on but he stopped before he tightened it.
"You can say anything you like love," he told her, leaning down to kiss her.
Rose fumbled nervously with his tie. "I wish I'd met you before Alec."
"That would have been impossible. I was in a bad way, I was getting ill, I was chasing a suspect in a murder investigation, back in Sandbrook, I was not in a good place Rose. You were travelling around, seeing the world. Tell me something, you and James, if not for that night in Norway, would you have ever got together?"
"I don't know Alec, really I don't. He liked me, we had loads of fun together, getting into trouble with the locals for not obeying their customs. We kissed a few times when we were saying goodnight, nothing serious. We used to walk around holding hands, I think he mainly did it for my protection, in foreign countries, to warn off the locals from chatting me up in the bar. He used to sit close to me, playing with my fingers while he talked and give me the odd kiss on the cheek."
"You went along with it?"
"I fancied him when I was in college, I wasn't gonna turn him down, was I? Besides, I really didn't want the locals chatting me up, how would he have felt? He took responsibility for me and yes, he was older than me, your age probably. He promised my mum he'd look after me and bring me back safely. He wouldn't have chatted women up, not with me around so I suppose we were looking out for each other really."
"So how long were you travelling together?"
"Six months or so, he told me his girlfriend had left him to further her career, he wasn't looking for a replacement. Guess he meant it."
"Rose, he did not deserve you. I think someone out there wants some attention so I will get him, you get dressed eh? Not that you don't look good in that nightdress."
Rose reached up and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, for being here for us."
"My pleasure love."
"By the way, my mum slapped him for getting me pregnant while we were away," Rose smiled.
Alec smiled to himself and went to get Jack, who had lost grip of a soft toy he'd been holding.
"Come on Jack, let's see if your mum has any biscuits for you so you won't want her toast."
Jack just held his arms up and let Alec lift him from the cot, going for Alec's beard again, something he was getting used to and thinking about trimming every morning. Sitting Jack in the chair again, Alec switched the kettle on and found the packet of rusks Jack seemed to enjoy, the boy happily taking it from him.
Alec wondered how Rose was really taking this, how easily they had both fallen into a routine after only a day. This just felt right to him somehow, she needed someone in her life after what had happened. How could Jack's father just leave them like that? It was all too fresh in his mind, Tess taking Daisy and their break-up. This was slightly different though, Jack was just a baby and now he was going to be confused over two men who wanted to be his father, if Rose wanted to stay with him, which judging by last night and this morning, was a certain bet.
Rose was wondering the same, Alec taking them in like that and he'd been honest about his motives, that he'd been going to leave her to get on with it but she would have been stuck in a cheap B&B until James gave her another payment and then it would have meant scraping by for another month unless he had been willing to help her out. She'd never reckoned on major repairs on her car, it had been reliable since he'd bought it for her.
She went downstairs, Alec was buttering the toast and getting the scrambled eggs in the pan. She went to put her arms around him from behind and kissed his cheek.
"He looks quite at home in that chair, considering he's not been in one before."
"Aye, he seems to like being high up, he can see everything."
Rose moved her hand from his rear, Alec raising his eyebrows, not that he objected.
"I will put the playpen up for you by the window before I leave, then it can stay there until his bedtime and don't worry about it taking up room, I can move the sofa up a bit. This is your house now Rose, now get your breakfast eh? I will finish work at twelve and when I get back, we will get Jack in the car and go get what he needs, no arguments. I will walk to work again, I need the exercise, not that I did not get enough with you last night."
Rose blushed again, something she was getting into the habit of since she'd met him.
"Yeah, maybe you'd have to explain a baby seat in the back? Really Alec, you can take it out."
"Not until your car is ready, we will be using it this weekend. Now, you do the laundry today since you never got the chance yesterday, sure you can manage to take it to dry?" he asked, putting breakfast on the table.
"Well now I think about it, maybe I'll wait for you coming back but I need some laundry bags. How did you manage?"
"I took it in carrier bags, I am out of practice, I had a dryer where I lived before, I will see about getting one for you. Look, this place is not going to be practical so, I was thinking of seeing the agency about getting somewhere bigger."
"Alec, I can't let you do that, we'll be fine here. What makes you think anywhere else will be bigger? You just moved here."
"Rose, don't worry love, I take it on a monthly basis, I've been here almost six weeks so that gives us two to find somewhere. No arguments, Monday lunchtime we will go see what they have coming up, there are plenty of furnished properties in the town."
"I like being by the harbour, Jack and I can take walks, when we don't get pestered by reporters. Will you talk to that one?"
"Leave it to me love, I will have words with him to back off, until we are ready to talk. Now, put Jack in the other seat and I'll put the playpen up for you. Don't forget to call James and your mother, the sooner you call him, the sooner we can sort out this mess. Rose, you trust me, don't you love?"
"Yeah, I trust you Alec, I wouldn't be here otherwise, would I? Why are you asking me?"
"Well what I said, about if people do see James here, with Jack, the first few times we will meet him out of town then if everything goes well, we can invite him back to see where Jack is living, well if we have moved by then and I will talk to him about going along with being my cousin, just to satisfy the town."
"Alec, that's not gonna work, is it? There's no easy answer to this, I'll just have to admit that James is his father and I left him and it was just coincidence I met you. The town can take it or leave it, I really don't care. I'm not gonna hide, I want James to be able to come here, not meet secretly, that's not me."
"Ok love, we will talk about this later eh? Whatever you decide is fine with me, I was just thinking about you and Jack."
"I know Alec, thanks. I'll call him and arrange for next weekend, the town will just have to live with two of you being here, won't they?"
Alec got up and went to kiss her cheek, Jack happily playing with the remains of his biscuit and Alec smiling and getting a cloth to clean him up while Rose cleaned the tray. She put him in the rocker that was just about big enough for him though not for much longer and he began making noises when he discovered the chair moved when he did.
"Seems he has missed out on a lot Rose," Alec remarked getting down in front of the chair and rocking it again, getting Jack all giddy. "We need a bigger place love, for when he's ready for bigger toys."
Rose still didn't get why Alec was doing all this, taking on a fatherly role two days after they had met, well never mind two days, it hadn't been two hours after he'd stopped to help and he'd brought them here, just for the night. Now they were talking long term and it should scare her but it didn't, she wanted to make plans as well, this was so different than the life she had left behind in London.
She'd had no plans when they had left last Thursday morning, her mother arguing as usual that Rose had her head in the clouds, going off with her son and nowhere to go. She thought back to that morning but Alec was talking to her.
"Rose, I was saying love, he needs some bigger toys soon, to ride on and to learn to walk."
"Not for another few months Alec. Sorry, I was just thinking about the morning I left."
"Come here love. Forget about it, you are both here with me now," he told her, getting up and putting his arms around her. "Did you argue with your mother before you left?"
"Yeah, she said I was being stupid, going off like I did but I'd really had enough so like I told you, I was heading for Exeter, don't ask me why."
"Then I won't, I am not judging you Rose but I am glad you came this way, even if it was a misfortune your car broke down and I happened to be passing. My original appointment should have been at the hospital in Exeter but it was changed, what were the chances of that eh?" he asked, going to kiss her.